Mid City Times

Of the 671 students at Watauga Middle School in Watauga, 537 (80%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Mid City Times' analysis of test scores from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). To better understand these statistics, it's important to know what TSI (Texas Success Initiative) and CCMR (College, Career, and Military Readiness) are, as they are key indicators of a student's readiness for post-secondary education or career paths.

Primary data on overall student readiness in Watauga Middle School is derived from the TSI's assessments, which evaluate student capabilities in reading, writing, and mathematics. Certain students may qualify for exemptions from these assessments. In contrast, CCMR focuses on preparedness for life post-high school, factoring in TSI scores along with other criteria like dual credits, AP/IB exam results, and more, to provide insights into specific subject performance.

In the 2021-22 school year, Watauga Middle School's student population was made up of 671 students, of which 58 were Hispanic, 47 White, 15 Asian, eight African American, six Multiracial, and one American Indian students.

Data shows that 44% (15) of Watauga Middle School 35 Asian students, 27% of its 23 multiracial students, 23% (47) of its 206 white students, 17% (58) of its 343 Hispanic students, 16% of its 53 African American students, and 10% of its four American Indian students had "mastered" their grade level in the 2021-22 school year and were "on track for college and career readiness," as measured by state academic standards.

The TEA says students who meet, but haven't mastered their grade level are "prepared to progress to the next grade," but are not on a college track.

In 2020-21, the TEA noted that 603 Watauga Middle School students - equivalent to 87% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 80%, marking a 7% decrease from the previous year.

Despite an improvement after the pandemic, Texas students are still struggling to keep a good performance and reach grade level in schools. In the 2021-22 school year, nearly two-thirds (60%) of students were below grade level in math and 48% did not meet the standards in reading language and arts.

According to Chandra Villanueva, director of policy and advocacy for Every Texan, one of the main causes for this is bad funds management. "Your average homeowner is like, 'Look, I'm paying more and more every single year. Why are my schools still underfunded, overcrowded, my teachers underpaid? Obviously, the schools are doing a bad job with my money,'" she said in an interview. Currently, Texas residents pay more than $70 billion annually in taxes destined to public education.

Gov. Abbott has been calling not only for an end to the main school property tax, but to use public money to support private schools. The initiative is called universal private school choice and, if passed, would allow residents to use taxpayer money to pay for their kids' private education.

"School choice not only improves education for every kid and every parent who chooses that pathway," Abbott said at the Texas Capitol on Oct. 16.

School	Total Students	% On College Track
Academy at Carrie F. Thomas	557	73%
Alliene Mullendore Elementary School	332	74%
Birdville Elementary School	419	87%
Birdville High School	2,047	71%
Cheney Hills Elementary School	609	83%
David E. Smith Elementary School	390	77%
Foster Village Elementary School	405	72%
Grace E. Hardeman Elementary School	611	67%
Green Valley Elementary School	417	51%
Haltom High School	2,791	84%
Haltom Middle School	1,002	81%
Holiday Heights Elementary School	527	74%
Jack C. Binion Elementary School	728	89%
John D. Spicer Elementary School	390	68%
North Oaks Middle School	541	87%
North Richland Middle School	874	81%
North Ridge Elementary School	493	59%
North Ridge Middle School	657	70%
O. H. Stowe Elementary School	631	85%
Richland High School	2,092	79%
Richland Middle School	654	79%
Shannon High School	133	93%
Smithfield Elementary School	560	60%
Smithfield Middle School	826	49%
Snow Heights Elementary School	367	67%
W. A. Porter Elementary School	533	59%
W. T. Francisco Elementary School	364	79%
Walker Creek Elementary School	437	59%
Watauga Elementary School	726	83%
Watauga Middle School	671	80%
West Birdville Elementary School	662	87%

Source: Texas Education Agency.